Arantxa Calvera, Director of the Catalan Tourist Board, at IBTM World. Image provided by the Department of Business and Work. Government of Catalonia.
In recent weeks, the Government of Catalonia has announced two new subsidy programmes for different areas of the tourism sector. Firstly, the terms and conditions have been approved for the awarding of “de minimis” aid for the promotion and protection of Catalan cuisine. The goal of this funding is to support projects that boost and raise the profile of Catalan products and dishes, as well as initiatives that foster entrepreneurial talent or promote the importance of traditional Catalan cuisine as part of the country’s food identity, among others. Framed within the Strategic Food Plan for Catalonia, this funding is available to both private and public companies and entities in the food and catering sectors.
There are eight strands of funding, each intended for a different type of project with its own special characteristics, such as the specific amount of funding or the possible beneficiaries. The actions eligible for subsidies include those that form part of the “Twelve Months, Twelve Gastronomic Landscapes” and the “Heroic Products of the Culinary Heritage Pantry” initiatives, promoted by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food as part of the celebration of Catalonia’s status as World Region of Gastronomy 2025. Please click here to see the terms and conditions.
Secondly, the Catalan Tourist Board (attached to the Department of Business and Work) has unveiled a new programme for SMEs and start-ups that develop innovative solutions aimed at sustainability, inclusion and resilience in the conference tourism sector.
This is an accelerator programme that will benefit more than 80 European projects, 15 of which will be Catalan, selected from the applications received. The chosen companies will be able to obtain up to €30,000 in funding, in addition to the opportunity to participate in training sessions, receive strategic advice from experts in the sector, and gain visibility on a local and global scale.
The two-month online application period begins in the first week of December. Companies interested in submitting an application can find more information here.
